Grease-dispensing apparatus



. Patented M310, 1921.

l/VVE/VTOFE. I HA/vs M. 505.

H. M. BOE. GREASE DISPENSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 00125. 1917.

Units srm s PATEN- reins.

HANS M. BOE, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

GREASE-DISPENSING APPARATUS.

1 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Hans M. Bon, a citi- I zen or the United States, resident of Minnepressure through a flexible hose for the lubrication of differentials and the like.

The object of my invention is to improve the apparatus shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 1,209,805, issued to me December 26, 1916.

A further object is to provide an improved measuring device bymeans of which the exact quantity of lubricating material dispensed can be'accurately determined.

A further object is to provide an improved piston equipped with means for positively closing the outlet opening when the piston has reached the limit of its down- I ward movement.

A further object is toprovide an apparatus of the class described of compact, simple construction and one which is comparatively I inexpensive to manufacture and maintain. I I

The invention consists I generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described 1 and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying I drawings forming part ofthis specification,

Figurel is a vertical sectional view of the container for the grease or other lubricating material, i

Fig. 2 is a planview of the same,

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the dial and indicating mechanism, I

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the lower portion of the trunk and the piston, showing the latter at the limit of its downward movement.

In the drawing, 2 represents the tank or container, having a bottom 3 provided with a discharge port or openingjl. The-upper walls of the tank or container are outwardly turned and seated in an encircling ring 5,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1921.

Application filed October 25, 1917. Serial No. 198,488.

A cover 6 is seated on the flanged upper walls of the container within said ring and is provided with a centrally arranged threaded stud 7 whereon a collar 8 is loosely mounted. A series of forked arms 9 are pivoted at their inner ends on said collar and have forked outer ends 10 which engage the shanks of bolts 11 mounted in the ring 5 and projecting upwardly therefrom above sald cover. The cover has a raised peripheral portion which forms a fulcrum for the arms 9 so that when the collar 8 is depressed,

the arms will be rocked and a pressure exerted on the outer edges of the cover to clamp it securely on the tank and close hermetically the joint between them. A wing nut 12 is mounted on the stud 7 for the purpose of depressing the collar and locking said cover. An air valve 13 is provided in said cover to which a hose may be connected for admitting. pressureto the tank and a pressure gage 14 indicates the degree of pressure in the tank. The cover is also provided with a sight opening 15 through which thedfigures on the dial beneath can be easily rea On the under side of the cover I provide a suitable frame 16 on which a sheave 17 is mounted by means of a suitable stud or pivot pin 18. A spring 19 is provided in connection with said sheave normally tending to wind the cable 20 thereon,'one' end of said cable passing through a guide 21 and attached to a bail '22 on a piston 23 that is arranged to slide vertically within said tank and normally rest upon the surface of the lubricating material therein. This piston has a peripheral ring 23 for contact with the wall of the tank. I prefer to make the top and bottom of this piston of plates or disks of'metal or similar material of suitable weight, with a wooden core, though it does not have the function of forcing the lubricant out of the tank but is rather a part of the measuring device resting upon the surface of the lubricant and keeping such surface level as the contents of the tank are discharged. Under pressure without this piston, the lubricating material might assume a funnel shape, because the outflow'of the lubricant being at the center of the bottom andthe'fric'tion at the wall of the tan tending to retard the downflow at the sides the pull is toward the center thus causing the funnel shape formation, but with the use of this piston, the pressure is evenly distributed and the lubricant will remain evenly across the tank until the bottom is reached.

As shown in the drawings, the metal top and bottom portions of the piston are preferably in the form of disks for the purpose of providing asuitable weight for the piston. l/V hen the device is used in a reservoir or tank containing oil, I may omit the metal disks, using only a wooden core, the weight of which will be sufiicient to keep the surface of the lubricating material even or uniform. In some cases I may leave one of the disks on the piston and take off the other. This, however, will all depend upon the character of the lubricant that is being dispensed.

A dial 2& is provided on the sheave, visible through the sight opening 15, and I provide this dial with two concentric circles of figures, the end of one circl merging into the beginning of the other so that, as the sheave revolves, and the rotation of one circle is completed, the eye will pass on to the beginning of the next circle and continue around to the end of it, at which time the piston will have reached the bottom of the tank and the sheave the end of its revolution. Obviously, by remembering the figure visible at the starting point of the sheave, and dc ducting such figure from the one shown at the end of the travel, will indicate the amount of lubricant discharged from the tank. A discharge pipe 25 is connected with the bottom of the tank and the open ing 4 and has a controlling valve 26 therein. To this pipea suitable flexible hose27may be attached for movement from place to place to discharge the lubricant into a differential or any other part of the car or other machine that is being lubricated. A bolt 28 is centrally mounted in the piston and is provided with a flexible pad 29 on its lower endon theunderside of the piston, which, when the piston reaches the limit of its downward movement, covers the port 4: and through the pressure of the head of the bolt on the pad effectually closes this port and prevents the discharge of any of the lubricating material. at a time when the indicator would not register the amount so discharged.

In practice some air passes between the pistonand the walls ofthe tank, and I have found'it necessary to provide some means for effectually closing the discharge port in the bottom of the tank when the piston reaches. thelimit of its downward movement. Ofcourse, a valve might be formed on the bottom of the piston, with a ground seat in thebottom of the tank, but the expenseof such an arrangement in an apparapad of flexible material which will adjust itself to the walls of the port and will absorb sufficient Oll or grease to exclude the passage of air, is best suited for use as a valve. It is inexpensive, easily fastened to the bottomof the piston by the bolt 28, and

can be readily removed for substitution or repairs whenever it is necessary. With such a means for closin the discharge port, the entrance of air into the pipe 25 and the violent discharge of greaseor other lubricant which may have accumulated near the nozzle of the device, will be prevented.

In using the device, a suitable fluid pres sure is admitted through the valve 13 into the top of the tank and upon opening the valve 26 the lubricant will be discharged and the piston will drop. down to revolve the sheave dial and allow the operator by glancing at the sight opening to determine just how much of the material in the tank has been dispensed. The spring connected with the sheave will always keep the cable taut and wind it up when the piston is raised to its elevated position in the tank.

I prefer to use a heavy piston for a heavy lubricating material to insure showing a correct measure at the indicator. The dial of the indicator can he graduated to show 100 either pounds or pints, as preferred, and the scale may be subdivided to show suitable fractions of pounds or pints, as may be found advisable, andthe diameter of the dial and the sheave may,.of course, be varied 105 to suit tanks of different sizes.

I claim as my invention: 1. An. apparatus for dispensing lubr1cat- 111g material comprising a tank having an open, top and cover therefor and a discharge the bottom of said tank for positively checking the further flow of lubricating material from sald tank when sald piston reaches the bottom thereof.

9.. An apparatus for dispensing lubricating material comprising a tank'having a discharge opening and a pipe communicating therewith, a piston arranged to rest upon the lubricating material within the tank and comprising a core having a peripheral piston ring for contact withthe walls of the tan d ks ofc mpa ative y he y mate i 1 0 seated against the upper and under surfaces of said core and secured thereto, said core, when used alone, being adapted to dispense a comparatively thin lubricating material but when said disks are mounted thereon being adapted to dispense a comparatively thick lubricating material.

An apparatus for dispensing lubricating material comprising a tank having a discharge opening in the bottom thereof, and a pipe communicating therewith, a cover having means for introducing air under pressure to said tank, a piston arranged to rest upon the lubricating material, and a valve composed of yielding material mounted on the underside of said piston and adapted to seat itself over said discharge opening when said piston reaches the limit of its downward movement, for the purpose specified.

l. An apparatus for dispensing lubricating material comprising a tank having a discharge opening in the bottom thereof, and a pipe communicating therewith, a cover having means for introducing air under pressure to said tank, a piston arranged to rest upon the lubricating material, a valve consisting of a flexible'pad secured to the underside of said piston and adapted to rest upon and close said discharge opening when said piston reaches the limit of its downward movement.

5. An apparatus for dispensing lubricating material comprising a tank having a discharge opening in the bottom thereof, and a pipe communicating therewith, a cover having means for introducing air under pressure to said tank, a piston arranged to rest upon the lubricating material, a bolt mounted in said piston and a valve comprising a strip of flexible material folded to form a loop and having its ends secured by said bolt, said loop resting upon the bottom-of the tank over said discharge opening when said piston reaches the limit of its downward movement, whereby air is excluded from said discharge pipe.

6. An apparatus for dispensing lubricating material comprising a tank having a discharge opening in the bottom thereof, a pipe communicating therewith, a piston arranged to rest upon the lubricating material, and a valve composed of yielding material mounted on the underside of said piston and adapted to seat itself over said discharge opening when said piston reaches the limit of its downward movement.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of Gctober, 1917. v HANS M. BOE. 

